An initiative that would allow a third Maine casino, but only in York County, has been qualified for the November ballot. The legislature could adopt the initiative, put up a competing initiative, or allow the voters to decide on it by itself.
The initiative is sponsored by Harness Racing Jobs Fairness LLC. It stipulates that the casino could only be in York County, and is written closely enough so that only one person qualifies to build the casino, Shawn Scott, who was the man behind the state’s first casino, Bangor’s Hollywood Slots, which he later sold to Penn National Gaming.
Ten percent of the casino’s profits from slots and 9 percent of table profits would be earmarked for education. Some would go to the state’s two Indian tribes, some for colleges, agriculture, drug addiction and 10 percent for racetracks.
The initiative also obligates the casino developer to pay $3 million for a licensing fee.
A study conducted by White Sands Gaming in 2014 concluded that the state could support another casino and recommended it be located in the southern part of the state.
The Bangor casino and the Oxford Casino bring in a total of $132 million each year, mostly from slot machines.
